Crop threshing or separating – Cleaner
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2002-08-20
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Crop threshing or separating
Cleaner
C460S098000, C460S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435966
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a harvesting machine, in particular a combine harvester, having a dividing for dividing a granular stream of material from the stream of material of remaining plant parts, a separating device connected downstream of the dividing device, and a revolving conveying unit having conveying tines being provided to convey the stream of the material from the dividing device to the separating device.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Conventional combine harvesters are generally provided with a threshing unit as a dividing device for dividing the grains from the ears of cereal, and therefore also from the straw, with a separating device being connected downstream thereof. In this separating device, (conventionally designed as shakers), the stream of grain material is divided from the stream of straw material.
Apart from so-called surface shakers, in which a shaking element extends over the entire working width of the separating device, use is also made of so-called tray-type shakers with which the shaking surface has been divided up, so that individual trays are arranged next to one another over the working width in accordance with a flat separating device. The individual shaker trays can execute different shaking movements, under the control of a crankshaft, for example.
In order to conduct the stream of material from the dividing device to the separating device, use is made of various conveying devices. Use is frequently made in this case of so-called conveying drums which operate either in an overshot manner or an undershot manner and conduct the material from the dividing device to the separating device using conveying tines protruding from the circumferential surface of the conveying drum. In many embodiments of a conveying drum of this type, the conveying tines in this case are fixed such that they can move with respect to the conveying drum and eccentrically with respect to the axis of the conveying drum, on a crankshaft, for example. Conveying units of this type are described, for example, in the publications EP 86 28 48, EP 86 28 49 and EP 86 28 50.
Experience has shown that with such controlled conveying tines, there is the not inconsiderable risk of the rotating conveying drum not completely discharging the material, with the result that the straw becomes jammed on the circumferential surface of the drum and is carried along over the entire circumference of the drum. Within a very short period this leads to a layer of straw building up on the circumferential surface of the drum, resulting in the combine harvester stopping. This process is also referred to as winding.
In contrast, the invention has the object of proposing a harvesting machine, in particular a combine harvester, in whose conveying device satisfactory discharging of material takes place in order to supply the separating device.
Taking harvesting machines of the type mentioned in the introduction as the starting point, this object is achieved by the characterizing feature in that at least one cleaning element for cleaning the material away from the free end of the conveying tines is provided.
Advantageous designs and developments of the invention are possible by means of the measures mentioned and described herein.
Accordingly, a harvesting machine according to the invention is distinguished in that at least one cleaning element for cleaning the material being conveyed away from the free ends of the conveying tines is provided.
In the case of conveying drums of the abovementioned type, it turns out that the winding, i.e. in the case of a combine harvester, the buildup of a layer of straw on the conveying unit, is essentially caused by the conveying tines. Above all, the material being conveyed, for example straw, is not completely detached from the free ends of the conveying tines at the right time. An additional cleaning element according to the invention assists the detaching of the material from the conveying tines, so that the winding on of material in the form of stem or stalks can be avoided. A cleaning element of this type can be used not only in conjunction with the abovementioned conveying drums, but it can also be used in the case of other conveying units, for example in the case of reel-shaped conveying units or the like.
However, a cleaning element according to the invention is preferably used on a conveying drum having conveying tines, in particular on a conveying drum having movable, controlled conveying tines. As mentioned above, without a cleaning element in this type of conveying unit the material in the form of stems or stalks frequently becomes jammed between the circumferential surface of the drum and the conveying tines when the tines enter into the circumferential surface of the drum, with the result that the abovementioned problem occurs with increasing frequency. As long as the conveying tines has [sic], however, been cleaned beforehand, this jamming is no longer possible.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, in conjunction with controlled conveying tines mounted on a conveying drum, the invention comprises mounting the cleaning elements on the conveying drum itself, so that the cleaning element rotates together with the conveying drum. By this means, elaborate structural measures in the region of the conveying drum above the separating device are avoided. The invention can be realized by a comparatively uncomplicated modification of the conveying drum.
A cleaning element of this type preferably includes a cleaning strip which extends over the length of the conveying drum and is provided with recesses for the conveying tines. During operation of the conveying unit, the conveying tines move in these recesses. Whereas the free ends of the conveying tines always have to be guided in the circumferential surface of the conveying drum, so that their movement is controlled, and therefore cannot quite dip into the conveying drum, the conveying tines can pass over the cleaning strip completely, so that the material being conveyed is cleaned off completely and can neither become jammed between the conveying tines and the cleaning element nor between the conveying tines and the circumferential surface of the conveying drum.
In an advantageous development of the invention, in addition to the conveying tines, further conveying elements are mounted on the conveying drum. In the rear region of the conveying drum, the conveying tines act in an upward direction, as a result of which the stem- or stalk-like stream of material is lifted up. By means of additional conveying elements, which may, for example, be mounted rigidly on the circumferential surface of the conveying drum, loosening up of the stream of material as it is being conveyed, and therefore a better action over the entire length of the separating device with a more uniform distribution of the material can be achieved. The efficiency of the separating device can therefore be increased.
An additional conveying element of this type advantageously includes a conveying strip protruding obliquely from the circumferential surface area of the conveying drum. A conveying strip of this type is, because the conveying strip is arranged obliquely and not radially with respect to the cylindrical circumferential surface area, able to convey the lifted-up stream of material away from the conveying drum in a loosened up manner.
The conveying strip is advantageously connected to the cleaning strip. This results in only one further component being necessary in order to attach both the cleaning element and the conveying element to the conveying drum. The manufacturing outlay is reduced as a result.
The conveying strip is preferably connected continuously to the cleaning strip. This results in a type of hood-shaped design of the cleaning element in conjunction with the conveying strip. The conveying strip therefore at the same time prevents material which is to be cleaned off from being able to get into the region between the cleaning strip and the circumferential surface of the drum.
In a prefe
Arnold Andreas
Dammann Martin
Fögeling Walter
Heidjann Franz
Kühn Bodo
Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
Crowell & Moring LLP
Kovács Árpád F
Will Thomas B.
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